Followers

Friday, July 23, 2010

Do you want to cut cholesterol without cutting taste? Most people are afraid that "good for my cholesterol" means meals that are joyless. However, a low-cholesterol diet doesn't have to be an all bland and no taste affair.

Here are some simple substitutions that you can make to the food you already eat to help fight cholesterol painlessly.

Carbohydrates can cause high levels of a type of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol. For a healthier salad, replace your carbo-laden croutons with walnuts, which are high in polyunsaturated fat—a good fat that can lower LDL while boosting HDL (aka goodcholesterol).

Research suggests that moderate alcohol intake can produce a slight rise in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). But if you’re gulping down pinacoladas and daiquiris, your cholesterol level may go way up! Switch to red wine; it has about a tenth of the carbohydrates of a margarita, and you’ll also get antioxidants such as flavonoids that are believed to lower LDL and boost HDL.

Remember to limit your daily intake to two glasses (for men) or one glass (for women).

Soaking a salad in high-fat salad dressing is like smoking cigars while working out! A low-fat alternative—such as a vinegar and lime juice topping or a grapefruit dressing—is the right way to go!